Very grateful! My mom's last words, thirteen days before she died at age 101, resonate in my heart every day. Thanks, Mom. Very grateful!
I'm home; have been for almost a week. Loved my March travels, to Edinburgh with my son, and to Florence with my daughter. Now love being home with my husband. A blessed life, for which I am well-aware, but my appreciation doesn't always rise to the high level it should; Ah, being human. True but not an excuse for not trying to be and act grateful.
Very grateful! My mom's last words, thirteen days before she died at age 101, resonate in my heart every day. Thanks, Mom. Very grateful!
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Twenty-five years ago I started this blog. It commenced at the start of what came to be five years during the winter months when I spent the weekdays at the cottage by the sea that I rented just an hour and a half from home. That's when I began this blog: A Cottage by the sea; a blog for those who are looking for silence, solitude, and simplicity, and who sometimes want to be alone. Every so often I review the purpose of the blog to see it if still holds true: it must be, because I am still posting, although not from the cottage. I still look for silence, solitude, and simplicity and I sometimes want to be alone. In fact, I continue to be satisfied and content with these longings. There is nothing I want to change about them. √ for Silence: I'm still working on it--not so much external silence, but internal-- in my head. √ for Solitude: I have enough, and when I don't, I know how to get it. √ for Simplicity: I've simplified my life style and all the stuff I have, but there is more to be done. I am very grateful for the longings and the life challenges they offer. Friends are forever telling me, "Oh, I could never travel alone like you do." Not everyone wants to do so, nor can they, which is more than fine. There is nothing sacred about being a solitary traveler. But for those who want time alone during their travels, there are ways to do just that. My daughter and I have marvelous plan for our ten days we are together in Florence. I get out early, by 7:30, wander about, enjoy my first cappuccino, visit a quiet church, sit at a café and enjoy a pasty along with my second cappuccino, visit a museum, wander about and arrive 'home' by 1 for lunch. Emily has done her own version of the same. The afternoon is ours together. Here is yesterday morning's visit to the Opera del Duomo museum. And, the Santo Spirito cloister. And to the Orti Dipinti garden with Emily. Forty-eight hours ago Emily arrived in Florence. We savored our first cappuccino, wandered about before gaining energy from a lunch of salad and bruschetta--all the time pulling our suitcases behind us. Then into our apartment and a one hour nap--no more. Dinner at Za-Za's. Yesterday we initiated our plan to spend the mornings on our own, and afternoons sightseeing and having dinner together. I went to San Marco to take pictures, once again, of the monk's cells with a fresco by Fra Angelico. In the afternoon Emily and I climbed to Piazzale Michelangelo and then on up the hill to San Miniato
I've returned from a fantastic trip in Edinburgh with my son and family; jetlag is behind me. Now preparing for a fantastic trip to Florence with my daughter; certainly not dwelling on the possibility of jetlag in front of me. I'm reminded of this farewell message on a previous visit just before I walked down the jetway to board the plane home. Little time to write. Here are some photos from our marvelous car trip north of Edinburgh along the River Tay. Not officially into the highlands, who would know? First stopped was the Finlarig Castle ruins where we took in the sights of the Beheading Pit and Hanging Tree. Next, a walk down to the river to view the ruins of a village that was abandoned in the early 1900s. And then a stop to examine some standing stones casually standing by the side of the road.
Traveling with family is more than I could have hoped for. A lovely combination of socializing and solitude. Some things, for sure, are better enjoyed with a group. For example, the Whiskey tour. And then there was the climb to Arthur's Seat. Fifteen years ago I climbed it by myself (no picture); wearing the skirt and sandals I had travel with because the airline had routed my suitcase to Brussels, not Glasgow. Yesterday I was glad to have my family helping me along. IT IS A STEEP CLIMB! Such fun. I would Not have done it alone. Here we were at Logan airport less than 24 hours ago. No we are in Edinburgh, but no picture to prove it. I'll take one tomorrow, but right now the rest of the group is on its way to Glasgow to attend the World In-Door Track Championship. Next stop for the lucky runners is the Summer Olympics in Rome. I chose to stay in my second favorite city to wander about, and stop for fish 'n chips before an early sleep. Our hotel is on Princes Street, just around the corner from St. Andrew's Square, which was showing signs of spring, even on the second day of March. Off to Edinburgh with my son and family. It was a trip planned for late March 2020, but that didn't work out. Before we had considered cancelling, we received emails from the hotels, beating us to it. Four years alter our itinerary is different but enthusiasm the same. We'll be staying in Edinburgh for seven nights, at a hotel right on Princes Street. All five us have special spots we want to visit: I figure we'll hang out together most of the time but also go our own ways when the time is right. Here are my five: 1. Climb Arthur’s Seat 2. Tour Holyrood Palace 3. Go to a service at St. Giles on the Royal Mile 4. Explore cemeteries, including St. Cuthbert’s 5. Walk along Dean Village, the Water of Leith to Stockbridge More thoughts on forgiveness. I don't have big situations to forgive: my life has not presented me with horrifying circumstances that haunt me; the people in my life have been loving and caring. I don't have people to forgive; not even one; except, of course myself, and even that doesn't consume me. I am sorry when I miss the mark; I try to do better, and love everyone, including my enemies. But what about forgiving politicians that lie, that disrupt freedom, that don't tell the truth, that…? At the workshop on forgiveness that I attended (see my February 16, 2024 post), Br. Curtis claimed with certainty that God adores everyone, even the politicians we disagree with. Well, I'm working on that one!!! We are not in charge of everything that happens in our life. Some situations or people may anger us, worry us, and effect us negatively, but there is nothing we can do to right the wrong we feel. Br. Curtis offers us a sensible affirmation to help us understand and proceed. • I didn't cause it • I can't heal it • I can't solve it |
Contact me: bobbifisher.mac@mac.com
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